The link between quackery and Chiropractics, one only need to go here for a simple explanation, although thousands other examples exist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic_medicine
I defer to the educated reader to draw their own conclusions on what makes logical sense.
It should be noted that:
1. The information which was cited on Stephen Barrett's issues were from sites which are run by his detractors. This is hardly unbiased on their part. Besides, quacks such as the ones listed via the links have a vested interest to silence anyone who dares question their lunacy, in the form of lost their lost "bilked" consumer revenue. (And loss of cult followers as well.)
2. The logic and critical thinking community, and as such the work done at sites such as quackwatch, are hardly the works of only one person, and as well, whether or not the allegations are true are not of little import.
What is being used is clearly what is known as a logical fallacy, (In this case attacking the person rather than the data which is called "Ad Hominem")
More info on these devices here:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
3.This is what the AMA says about "alternative medicine":
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13638.html
Particularly, Chiropractics:
(snip)
Chiropractic
As with many systems in alternative medicine, chiropractic holds that the innate ability of the body to heal itself can be optimized by achieving a "balance"; that proper function of the nervous system is key to this homeostasis; that "subluxations" of the spine and misalignment of joints impinge on nerves, causing imbalance in internal systems; and that manual release of these structural and functional joint pathologies can heal a number of conditions, and prevent illness as well.12
The theories behind chiropractic have been widely criticized. A 1968 study by the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare concluded that chiropractic schools did not prepare students to adequately diagnose and treat patients, and recommended that their services not be covered under Medicare.2,12 In 1972, Congress added Medicare benefits for "manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation demonstrated to exist on x-ray." In 1974 the Council on Chiropractic Education was recognized to accredit schools of chiropractic, despite the absence of clear evidence of efficacy of chiropractic therapy.12 Over the years, both political pressure and consumer acceptance has won lincensure for chiropractic in all 50 states. Most of the nation's 45,000 chiropractors bill Medicare for services rendered, amounting to $181 million in 1990.12 Most third-party payors accept claims from chiropractors.
Manipulation has been shown to have a reasonably good degree of efficacy in ameliorating back pain, headache, and similar musculoskeletal complaints,13 and some chiropractors limit their practices to these conditions. While precise statistics are not available, a majority of chiropractors adhere to the method’s original theories, and continue to claim that chiropractic manipulation cures disease rather than simply relieving symptoms. (Personal communication, Denny Futch DC, Vice President, National Association of Chiropractic Medicine). They promote manipulation as useful in a host of conditions, ranging from infectious diseases to immune therapy, even claiming to prevent future conditions from occurring (even if years away) including menstrual irregularity, difficulty giving birth, and cancer.12 Chiropractors commonly provide advice in nutrition and other preventive practices, and maintain that a regular series of "adjustments" is needed by most persons to maintain optimal health.
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One should note that I never said I had a problem with S.M.T. itself when used by A.M.A. approved guidelines for legitimate, scientifically established purposes, but rather my issue is with all of the other "benefits" of Chiropractics", which are simply, and purely, and obviously, egregiously fallacious in nature.
Or, is the A.M.A. in on the "BIG CONSPIRACY" too?
It was placed upon me a challenge to disprove the so-called other "benefits" of chiropractics, however I would argue, that it is not for I to disprove, but rather for believers of "alternative medicine" to prove that their claims are correct.
As Carl Sagan famously said: " Extra-ordinary claims require extra-ordinary proof.
I will even take this a step further:
Are you aware that if the claims are true, you personally could win a million dollar prize?
The James Randi foundation offers just such a challenge:
http://www.randi.org/research/index.html
Here is a link to some other interesting info:
http://tinyurl.com/d2emq
For lazy people like me, the second link goes here:
chiropractic:
The American Medical Association has referred to chiropractic as “an irrational, unscientific approach to disease causation.” Originated in 1895 by one Daniel David Palmer, it was made into a thriving trade by his son, B.J. Palmer. The major claim of the art is that “subluxations” (misalignments of the spinal column) cause illnesses.
The various schools of chiropractic differ in what they claim can be cured by manipulating the spine, some having almost no limit (asthma, bacterial and viral infections, migraine, cancer, AIDS), while others are satisfied to relieve muscle spasms——for which such massage is probably beneficial. Some obviously renegade chiropractors sell their patients on “color therapy” in which applied kinesiology is used to determine the victim's sensitivity to specific colors, and they also use “polarity reversal” in which magnets are used to change the “bioenergy” field of the body. Both systems are perfect examples of expensive quackery, having no basis whatsoever in fact.
Chiropractors have been known to bruise and sometimes more gravely injure their customers, but often these people go right back to receive more at the hands of the operator, seeming not to learn from experience. Chiropractors are fond of pointing out that regular MDs are far from perfect, a fact that in no way validates what they themselves are doing and that appears to be only a method of misdirecting the attention of the detractor.
While there doubtless is some value to chiropractic in respect to massage relief of strains and muscle spasms, statements made by chiropractors include such howlers as specifying that a subluxation of the sixth dorsal vertebra brings about diphtheria. Such a notion is another classic example of quackery.
But having your back rubbed does feel good, and the pops produced by being flexed and stretched do sound impressive.
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Lastly,
I'd like to point out that your post attacked me preemptively, even though you do not even know me, nor have we interacted previously, This is usually considered bad form in most social circles. While, this obviously shows that you are passionate about your chosen beliefs, it does not exactly facilitate the "spirit of open dialogue" which I believe is at the heart of this forum.
I would ask that we concentrate on the discussion at hand, and less on an interpersonal exchange.
Until then, I welcome any spirited debate.
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Rich
